Great Video, I so enjoy seeing what you do and all the interesting things in your workshop. I wish I was younger because I would love to learn to be a Luthier. Alas, I'm in my mid 60s and not in the best of health.
Hey Olaf, I want to comment on something that is not particular to this video, but I always wanted to say -- I love how you always end your videos with "keep making beautiful music", it's something that always encourages me! Thank you for all you do.
I really enjoy watching Olaf work on instruments, and learning so much a long the way. As a cellist, I am fascinated by learning all the little intricate details of how my instrument works internally and the ways I can better maintain my lovely companion. I am actually intending to take mine in for servicing on Saturday. I would love to see Olaf showcase some of his work on cellos and how they differ, or don't differ from violin work.
Getting a frog slide out can sometimes be a challenge but normally a bit of masking tape rolled up into a tube & stuck onto the pearl slide, can be enough to get sufficient grip between thumb & slide, but for the most stubbornly tight slides I have resorted to supergluing a toothbrush handle to it to then be able to tap it out (after trying heating with a hair dryer). It is easily separated if done within something like 5 minutes & then cleaned up with acetone, although that still has its risks going to such lengths, but many times better than using a chisel behind it which just damages the slide. Using pencil graphite on the edges makes it easier for next time too. 🙂 Using paper & PVA glue under the leather is much better than what I've seen from a certain bow maker where they have used masking tape. It just goes sticky over time. I don't know why they do it. Interesting tip for tapering the packing paper at the frog though. I see some sticks quite worn there though. What do you do with worn sticks in that location? Build it up at all with a graft?
I know some of the old gut strings can give off an odor but I never thought some would use perfume to mask it. Learn something new every day. Thanks for sharing.
0:18 I love (well, *hate* actually) the sound of the bugs that are constantly buzzing in Australia haha. It doesn't bother me normally, but in videos.... ugh! If only you could "turn off the bugs"! Otherwise, great video Mr Grawert!
Personally, I love the sounds, of the wildlife, outside his window. It's the sounds of the Real world around us, not the pitiful artificial one we have created.
@@liamnevilleviolist1809: No, I do not, I live in the state of Missouri, In the US. It is not a tropic environment, as you have, but there are plenty of insects. Also, I said I like to hear them. I did not say I like to deal with them. I Don't. 40 years ago, I moved from an Urban environment, to a more suburban one. Still within the city limits but very old (1953). I found it wonderful, to go to go to bed at night, in the summertime, and listen to the crickets and cicadas. It stays too hot at night now, to have the windows open. I miss it. As a side, I live about a quarter mile south, of Forest Park, in St. Louis (about the middle of the city). I have had a deer, a turkey and a bald eagle, in my back yard and great horned owl, on my roof. Damn! he was big. I have also seen coyotes running the street, in front of my house. In the summer, I can look up and see seagulls, two different hawks and pelicans. The ocean birds follow the Mississippi River up from the Gulf of Mexico and then a storm drainage canal, near my house. Two years ago, there was a black bear a neighborhood just a mile west of me. It's a heavily populated area and nowhere near where you would expect to see a bear. So, I still have some wild entertainment, here abouts. 😁✌🖖
Love these videos! It would be fun to have you look at some players instruments (e.g. from the 2set violin gang) and tell them what could be improved or serviced. I'm sure many players are not even aware of these things. As Chello player, I would love to see your work on other instruments as well! Have a wonderful week and looking forward to your next video!
Another terrific video! I particularly enjoyed the work on the bow, I have never seen that done before! Your skills are amazing, you make it look "easy," which is the hallmark of a master craftsman. Your attention to all the little details is amazing and I think sets you apart, not to mention you share that with us, the eager audience, showing us how you do all this beautiful work. Thank you Olaf for sharing, your videos are truly inspiring and so educational!
In another life I would have loved doing this kind of work. I really enjoy watching this. For what it's worth (if possible) it could be nice to see the reaction from the customer and maybe even get a little snippet of them testing it out. =)
Great work on this violin! It's so satisfying to see how the instrument transforms from before and after your service. Gives me more hope that my local shop can perhaps fix the damage they left on my viola. After getting fine tuners, they must have not been careful and 1 fine tuner gouged into the top plate leaving a 1 inch scratch. I was pretty sad with that...
Olaf! I'm surprised you don't have a spinning machine for the silver winding? Any reason? Because.... *ZIP* ! ..... you can do the silver or gold winding/lapping in about 30 seconds with no gaps! Tinsel (the version that is- silk wound with a precious metal) is a different story though.... because it's a little more "gummy".
Hm, I actually always clean my strings with alcohol, though not with perfume, and to this day, there have been no accidents with drops on the varnish. With perfume, however, I would have feared buildup on the strings due to other ingredients in the perfume. I've been doing it for about 20 years. I always use very little alcohol on kitchen roll that soaks up some of the alcohol so there never have been drops. Edit: A luthier once told me NOT to just take the rosin off the strings with a cloth because that might damage the outer layer of the strings?
@@nancymilawski1048 They do haha, but it would be a reduction of the word - so "ferrule" would theoretically become a "ferro". That's how the bogans (Australian rednecks) would call it. "Ring" just sounds odd. I'm an American-born Australian and I call it a ferrule. Three other luthiers I know also call it a ferrule.
Im always wondering what does violin varnish smell like? And those cleaners too. I know a little about how they make varnish, and I always imagined that it would smell kind of like Cologne, or aftershave lotion....Something of that nature.
I love seeing this level of artistry. But I wish that each clip was at least two seconds long. For example, the final section on the bow with making the wedges was so choppy it was incomprehensible.
Hi Olaf, Greetings from germany I still wonder why Cellos do´nt use tuning pegs like Bass do? For Violin and Violas I accept they are heavy but I cannot understand why Cellos do´nt have a nice rubner Mechanik. This would save so much time in Orchestra and the sound would benefit. So is there a historic reason for not using modern mechanics? Once upon a time I know guitars and Double Base used to have friction pegs too. But now most Instruments have moderne nice mechanics. Also I use Knilling pegs they come with real wood and Hill style they are expensive but worth the money. Its less expensive to install Knilling planetary than pay for the "ausbuxen" do´nt know the english word. Wittners work well but are ugly I agree.
I am really new at this interest in Violins, and this episode gives me a question to ask. What does perfume on the strings do? Is it for cleaning the strings of the excess rosen. Wouldn't a normal course of action is to clean the violin after each use?
Hello Olaf, great video. I've been watching a lot of different videos here on TH-cam about the forgotten secrets of violin making of the Cremona makers. there are lots of theories about what made the Cremona instruments so amazing. But I came across one video by an American physicist named William F. Fry, who thinks that the Cremona makers engineered their instruments with their knowledge of physics. If you have the time I was wondering if you might watch that video, and give us your thoughts on his theory. Dr Fry starts his lecture at around the 20 minute mark of the video. Again, thanks for the great video. th-cam.com/video/c8-rOvWeV8k/w-d-xo.html
💙 🙉 😳 What ever was going on . . . STOP IT! 🤪 🙈 Please! It possibly was me this AM. Yet, the video was super jerky. Jump from here, jump to there. 🙉 I tried going to .75 speed; yet, your voice then was like you'd come off a hangover, & needed to speak very clearly & s l o w l y. 🤣 life today in the BIG city. 😁 💙 I really DID enjoy ALL the work you did.
Great Video, I so enjoy seeing what you do and all the interesting things in your workshop. I wish I was younger because I would love to learn to be a Luthier. Alas, I'm in my mid 60s and not in the best of health.
Hey Olaf, I want to comment on something that is not particular to this video, but I always wanted to say -- I love how you always end your videos with "keep making beautiful music", it's something that always encourages me! Thank you for all you do.
I really enjoy watching Olaf work on instruments, and learning so much a long the way. As a cellist, I am fascinated by learning all the little intricate details of how my instrument works internally and the ways I can better maintain my lovely companion. I am actually intending to take mine in for servicing on Saturday. I would love to see Olaf showcase some of his work on cellos and how they differ, or don't differ from violin work.
Enjoy you walking us through the refresh process.
Getting a frog slide out can sometimes be a challenge but normally a bit of masking tape rolled up into a tube & stuck onto the pearl slide, can be enough to get sufficient grip between thumb & slide, but for the most stubbornly tight slides I have resorted to supergluing a toothbrush handle to it to then be able to tap it out (after trying heating with a hair dryer). It is easily separated if done within something like 5 minutes & then cleaned up with acetone, although that still has its risks going to such lengths, but many times better than using a chisel behind it which just damages the slide. Using pencil graphite on the edges makes it easier for next time too. 🙂
Using paper & PVA glue under the leather is much better than what I've seen from a certain bow maker where they have used masking tape. It just goes sticky over time. I don't know why they do it. Interesting tip for tapering the packing paper at the frog though. I see some sticks quite worn there though. What do you do with worn sticks in that location? Build it up at all with a graft?
I'm amazed of how you handled carefully for the bow silver to be wrapped!
Oh my god I miss this channel so mucchhhh
I love watching you, please upload videos more 🎻
Thank you!
I'll do my best... lots of great content coming up soon.
I know some of the old gut strings can give off an odor but I never thought some would use perfume to mask it. Learn something new every day. Thanks for sharing.
0:18 I love (well, *hate* actually) the sound of the bugs that are constantly buzzing in Australia haha.
It doesn't bother me normally, but in videos.... ugh! If only you could "turn off the bugs"!
Otherwise, great video Mr Grawert!
Personally, I love the sounds, of the wildlife, outside his window.
It's the sounds of the Real world around us, not the pitiful artificial one we have created.
@@zapa1pnt Do you live in Australia? Heh. Just wondering....
I was going to comment that... lol. While watching the video, I suddenly feared there was something wrong with my speakers!
@@liamnevilleviolist1809: No, I do not, I live in the state of Missouri, In the US.
It is not a tropic environment, as you have, but there are plenty of insects.
Also, I said I like to hear them. I did not say I like to deal with them. I Don't.
40 years ago, I moved from an Urban environment, to a more suburban one.
Still within the city limits but very old (1953). I found it wonderful, to go to
go to bed at night, in the summertime, and listen to the crickets and cicadas.
It stays too hot at night now, to have the windows open. I miss it.
As a side, I live about a quarter mile south, of Forest Park, in St. Louis (about the middle of the city).
I have had a deer, a turkey and a bald eagle, in my back yard and great horned owl, on my roof.
Damn! he was big. I have also seen coyotes running the street, in front of my house.
In the summer, I can look up and see seagulls, two different hawks and pelicans.
The ocean birds follow the Mississippi River up from the Gulf of Mexico and then a
storm drainage canal, near my house. Two years ago, there was a black bear a neighborhood
just a mile west of me. It's a heavily populated area and nowhere near where you would expect to see a bear. So, I still have some wild entertainment, here abouts. 😁✌🖖
A Master at Work
Love these videos!
It would be fun to have you look at some players instruments (e.g. from the 2set violin gang) and tell them what could be improved or serviced. I'm sure many players are not even aware of these things. As Chello player, I would love to see your work on other instruments as well!
Have a wonderful week and looking forward to your next video!
Another terrific video! I particularly enjoyed the work on the bow, I have never seen that done before! Your skills are amazing, you make it look "easy," which is the hallmark of a master craftsman. Your attention to all the little details is amazing and I think sets you apart, not to mention you share that with us, the eager audience, showing us how you do all this beautiful work. Thank you Olaf for sharing, your videos are truly inspiring and so educational!
Thank you for the video! Such informative content.
An amazing transformation in the finish! It went from a flat dull look to one with real depth and interest. Thank you!
Watched tons of videos and had forgotten to subscribe. Love your videos Olaf.
Man, I wish I knew a violin maker in my area that paid as much attention to detail as you do
Very interesting!
In another life I would have loved doing this kind of work. I really enjoy watching this.
For what it's worth (if possible) it could be nice to see the reaction from the customer and maybe even get a little snippet of them testing it out. =)
Excellent video! Would be curious to know, what happens when you've plained a fingerboard too much? I assume you'd need to switch it to a new one?
Exactly...
After about 15 to 20 times planing it needs to be replaced.
Ive seen enough of your videos to want to do work like this lol
Great work on this violin! It's so satisfying to see how the instrument transforms from before and after your service.
Gives me more hope that my local shop can perhaps fix the damage they left on my viola. After getting fine tuners, they must have not been careful and 1 fine tuner gouged into the top plate leaving a 1 inch scratch. I was pretty sad with that...
Sad???? You should be mad.
@@zapa1pnt Yeah... The instrument was also like 3 days old, I had just bought it :(
@@tech_realm: OY!
Did the client ever say why the edges were so rough?
Olaf! I'm surprised you don't have a spinning machine for the silver winding? Any reason? Because.... *ZIP* ! ..... you can do the silver or gold winding/lapping in about 30 seconds with no gaps!
Tinsel (the version that is- silk wound with a precious metal) is a different story though.... because it's a little more "gummy".
A professional player with 4 fine tuners?! Sacrilegious! :)
Hr said she is also a teacher so probably uses it to demonstrate to her students
Hm, I actually always clean my strings with alcohol, though not with perfume, and to this day, there have been no accidents with drops on the varnish. With perfume, however, I would have feared buildup on the strings due to other ingredients in the perfume. I've been doing it for about 20 years. I always use very little alcohol on kitchen roll that soaks up some of the alcohol so there never have been drops.
Edit: A luthier once told me NOT to just take the rosin off the strings with a cloth because that might damage the outer layer of the strings?
When you say "spirit varnish" do you mean like shelac/French polish? Also good work.
13:08 "Ring"?!! I've never heard a ferrule called *that* before!
Aussies have to rename everything, eh??
@@nancymilawski1048 They do haha, but it would be a reduction of the word - so "ferrule" would theoretically become a "ferro". That's how the bogans (Australian rednecks) would call it.
"Ring" just sounds odd. I'm an American-born Australian and I call it a ferrule. Three other luthiers I know also call it a ferrule.
Im always wondering what does violin varnish smell like? And those cleaners too. I know a little about how they make varnish, and I always imagined that it would smell kind of like Cologne, or aftershave lotion....Something of that nature.
I love seeing this level of artistry. But I wish that each clip was at least two seconds long. For example, the final section on the bow with making the wedges was so choppy it was incomprehensible.
Hi Olaf, Greetings from germany I still wonder why Cellos do´nt use tuning pegs like Bass do? For Violin and Violas I accept they are heavy but I cannot understand why Cellos do´nt have a nice rubner Mechanik. This would save so much time in Orchestra and the sound would benefit. So is there a historic reason for not using modern mechanics? Once upon a time I know guitars and Double Base used to have friction pegs too. But now most Instruments have moderne nice mechanics. Also I use Knilling pegs they come with real wood and Hill style they are expensive but worth the money. Its less expensive to install Knilling planetary than pay for the "ausbuxen" do´nt know the english word. Wittners work well but are ugly I agree.
Did you ever find out what was causing the damage around the lower bout?
I am really new at this interest in Violins, and this episode gives me a question to ask. What does perfume on the strings do? Is it for cleaning the strings of the excess rosen.
Wouldn't a normal course of action is to clean the violin after each use?
May I ask what oil you put on the fingerboard?
Is that silver wire you use for the bow sterling silver, or just nickel silver?
Silver is cheap compared to his work time. I guess it’s the real one.
Olif, What glue do you use? That and your wax for polishing.
You mention habits that you mention to your clients to help protect their instruments. What are these habits?
Something rattling inside the violin, is that intentionally put in there loose?
Is silver the actual material or the generic name you give to metals?
Someone dropped a guitar pick in the violin? 🤣 Why is there always something rattling inside?
Are fingerboards no longer made of ebony? Pretty hard to grove that.
I believe there is variation in the hardness of wood
Have you ever considered an apprentice?
Yes...
Problem is the first year is hard work...
So I look for a violin making school graduate, so I don't have to teach the basics.
Hello Olaf, great video. I've been watching a lot of different videos here on TH-cam about the forgotten secrets of violin making of the Cremona makers. there are lots of theories about what made the Cremona instruments so amazing.
But I came across one video by an American physicist named William F. Fry, who thinks that the Cremona makers engineered their instruments with their knowledge of physics.
If you have the time I was wondering if you might watch that video, and give us your thoughts on his theory.
Dr Fry starts his lecture at around the 20 minute mark of the video.
Again, thanks for the great video.
th-cam.com/video/c8-rOvWeV8k/w-d-xo.html
💙 🙉 😳
What ever was going on . . . STOP IT! 🤪 🙈 Please!
It possibly was me this AM. Yet, the video was super jerky. Jump from here, jump to there. 🙉
I tried going to .75 speed; yet, your voice then was like you'd come off a hangover, & needed to speak very clearly & s l o w l y. 🤣
life today in the BIG city. 😁
💙 I really DID enjoy ALL the work you did.